Different perspectives on Eury Pérez's first spring training start

[Kevin Barral]

Eury Pérez made his first start of the spring and 10-year MLB veteran Curt Casali had a lot of positives to say about the 20-year-old pitching phenom.

JUPITER, FL—Eury Pérez took the mound on Monday, looking healthy and experimenting with a new pitch grip. There was a lot to take away from his 2024 spring training debut as the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals ended in a 1-1 tie.

 

Eury Pérez makes his first start

Although there was a lot of good in Eury Pérez's first spring training start, there was still some rust to take off. His whole arsenal was on display while going 1 ⅔ innings where he struck out three and gave up one run off of three hits, just not all of it was working well. His fastball was averaging 98 miles per hour and the slider was effective, but his curveball and changeup still need some work to be done.

"I'll evaluate this is a good outing," said Pérez after his outing via translator. "I was out there trying to as always compete, and first one of the spring, trying new stuff and working on a few things."

One of the new things Pérez worked on was his curveball grip. This was a decision he made along with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr.

"The curveball is one of the things I'm working on during my bullpen sessions," said Pérez. "It's looking well, but in the game, not that good. I have to work on that. I have a different grip over the curveball, so it's something I have to keep working on in my bullpen sessions and then try my best during the games."

Pérez used his curveball 14.0% of the time during his rookie season.

 

Curt Casali's perspective

Along with Pérez, his battery mate Curt Casali made his spring training debut. Casali was one of the last players Bendix signed to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Most recently, Casali was with the Cincinnati Reds and slashed .175/.290/.200/.490, but for the 10-year veteran, his defense is what stands out the most.

Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker had a lot of praise for Casali's simple but effective communication style.

"He’s had really good young pitchers up and down (in Cincinnati and San Francisco)," said Schumaker before the game. "He's been around, he knows how to have simple messaging on the mound, even listening to him post-bullpens. It's just really simple messaging, which I think gives guys confidence when there are leverage situations or whatever. When they walk off, then you know they're ready to go.”

Schumaker also noted that Christian Bethancourt "has done a great job already as well." Bethancourt in his lone game this spring went 1-for-2 with an RBI single.

"It was incredible," said Casali about catching Pérez. "The life on his fastball is real. Feels like he's literally placing it in my glove. That's just how far it reaches. I thought his slider was really good today. Fastball location could probably do better. Had a really good curveball in the bullpen that just didn't really translate into the game. We tried a few times and didn't really have too many opportunities to throw the changeup, but in terms of first start of the spring, my first impression of him catching him for the first time, I thought it was good."

What can Pérez do to improve in his next outing?

"Going out next time, we need to be a little bit more around the zone. Get them into swing mode as fast as we can. His stuff should take a positive first step for him and I'm excited to see what he can do."

 

Skip Schumaker's thoughts and game notes

Here is Schumaker's assessment of Eury Pérez: "Some deep counts probably cost him pitch count-wise in spring training. His velocity was there. Thought his slider was good, changeup and curveball, probably not where he wanted it. Overall really good outing."

Schumaker also noted that Pérez only threw his new grip curveball twice and that it had been working during sides and bullpens, it's just a case of it not translating to the game itself.

The Marlins acquired Darren McCaughan from the Seattle Mariners this offseason and on Monday, he made his Marlins spring training debut, throwing one shutout inning, but walked two.

"Probably too much around the zone today," said Schumaker. "Was playing with fire a little bit. With the bases loaded and that type of stuff, probably not ideal, but got out of it. I think the double play was really good up the middle, but I think he probably wants to throw more strikes than that and then get behind hitters, fell behind hitters. His slider is good."

The second-year manager also noted that McCaughan threw the slider more, but has gone away from it due to how uncomfortable it feels when throwing it.

Starting pitcher Braxton Garrett, who had been dealing with some general soreness this spring, threw what Schumaker considered his first real bullpen of the spring. It was a step in the right direction, but Garrett's availability for the Opening Day roster is unclear with only a month to go.

“He's gonna have a couple more bullpens,” said Schumaker. “I'm sure you can think about where that is headed, but I think the reality is he needs a couple more bullpens. Need four or five before you get an outing out there. That was his first one. We'll see where he's at, anything can happen, but he's gonna need three more bullpens. He felt really good coming out of it today.”

Recently signed Tim Anderson is getting back in the swing of things. He won't travel for the Marlins' road game against the Mets on Tuesday, but he's nearly ready for Grapefruit League action.

"When he feels ready to go, we'll put him in a game," said Schumaker, "but I don't have like this one date that he's gonna go. He's gonna play the next couple days."

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